Ah another session in PJ trade centre, this time we did a maternity with Michael and Cheryl, I guess I've expose myself too much here until we were chased by the guards. It was a fun session, though the guard kept looking at us until we have to move to the back yard of PJ trade hehe. Thanks to Michael and Cheryl!
Joanne wanted a family portrait with some lifestyle approach so we also did the session in PJ Trade Centre, they did their wedding shot with Sunny Sun in Penang, she's one of the beautiful mom in the lift, Anna was a little quiet but we kept trying to play with them and had some beloved session throughout the shoot, loving the bricks around here, they brought a bubble machine so we keep Anna busy for a while hehe. Well I wish I could try up some styling and deco set ups for the next round of family portrait, or some activities for the family, something like a family moment, will see which family is willing to do that, not everyone prefer as different family have their own preferences. :)
It was not an easy task to cover 2 children but this two are the good ones, Sylvia had her make up done in our studio and we headed to PJ Trade Centre for the shoot, going to cover 3 rounds in the same spot in a week, well this area is difficult because of the security guards around but we managed anyways hehe. Brought over some of my goodies for the kids to play, awesome morning!
Finally, yes finally I've made it to Hokkaido, this location by far is one of my personal favourite to date and have been to this beautiful place couple of times after this. In every ladies dream there are things that we dreamed of since we were young, these we the cause of some influences from those literatures that we used to read in books, and this time it became real, and one of the most fruitful experience was the sunflower farm.
Just to elaborate a little on Jonathan and Micaela, their relationship was one of the most funny and unique one, when we first met up in Hokkaido, both of them love to talk with one another debating whats good and bad, whats real and whats not, etc. It recall me on one of the movie "Before Sunrise" that I've watched earlier, where both person kept on talking debating with each other none stop, but there is a hidden message within where both person would not bring it out because scare of loosing intellectually, that is love and care. That is why I created a theme for them called "A letter of the Unspoken", with images, we recreate something that are suppose to be hidden on both hearts, where both person knew from the inside but seldom address on the outside. To me, it is quite fun to have a soul mate like this, although Micaela said that she always wanted a rich guy and only reason she love Jonathan because he has a family in Perth, but I know deep within it is something laughable and joy, it will be very boring if they were not together. Micaela is a blessing, she is not like the typical Singaporeans but she also talk many bad things about Singapore haha, she has her own attitude of truthful and real. We had a wonderful 1.5 day session. Jonathan is such a funny guy, he love to laugh and making jokes around, he is very easy going and this makes them a good match, but it doesn't mean that he will give in to Micaela's certain ideas hehe.
There is this mystical experience that I would love to share here, we were so desperate looking for a sunflower field and I was the most desperate one for sure, we went to ask the train station about where to find a wild sunflower field and the person pointed to this place and we took a cab there, for the moment we reached that place, it was so divine! The place its like a fantasy world, we all just stood there for a while to experience that moment without taking any pictures, and so we waited for the sunset to come on us, there goes my favourite shot. Finally I have fulfilled a few of my dreams, the lavender farm, the sunflower farm, going Otaru, one of many girls dream place and it was well known in many Japanese literatures. We just fell in love with every single thing.
Oh yea about the mystical experience, as soon as we finished our session in the sunflower field, we noticed that there is no transportation around, we did not plan for it at the first place, only discovered when we decided to go home LOL. But surprisingly, suddenly an old lady with a dog appeared behind the bushes further away and walked towards us, we asked her which way to the train station, he said there is no transport around and need to walk about 1 hour or so to the train station, but there is a main road a distance away, should be able to reach there in 30 mins. And so she said that she will guide us there, we were surprised how much she was and furthermore she was able to communicate in english. She is the only person we met in this trip that can speak fluently. When we reached the main road there wasn't any taxi and she said she will help us call one and as soon we hop on the taxi, she was gone when we look back. That remains as mystery in our trip.
The sunflower farm has remain a good memory, as the second time I went to visit, the sunflower farm was gone and we can never find another place like this anymore.
Before this people had asked me which was the best wedding I have ever shot and I was unable to give an answer because they were all unique and special, but this one is by far the most memorable, most unforgetable and the sweetest and heartwarming wedding I have ever shot, as a photographer I do not look at how nice the decorations and fancy stuffs but often times it is the people that meant the most to me. In order to collect those memories that I still remember, I am going to write a long story to share with you the experience I had with them. Before this Philip and Deniece had gone through a pre-wedding session with me in beautiful Hoi Ann, Vietnam. Both of them studies together back in college and now they are both Dentist, and in my previous blog I am sure you know why dentist and doctors are the best couple haha. One of the reason why the wedding was great because both Philip and Deniece are those rare couples that doesn't hesitate to share with one another, they are both humble and always give thanks to one another, because of the work of giving one another, it creates a flow of love that constantly feeding each other, allow one another to feel fulfilling and rich at heart. Because of its richness I've gave them a unique beloved session back in Hoi Ann, allowing them to experience one another, those experience of continue discovering one another allow them to found something precious in their lives and the meaning they should be together for a long long time.
There are many good things to learn from this couple, starting with exchanging presents and planned to open it during the wedding day, and those presents are not fancy watches or physical things but something meaningful like a letter or things that lighten their heart, something that tells something greater in their lives, and so Deniece fall in tears.
The second meaningful thing was Philip planned to wash the feet of Deniece before he receives her in her room, the reason Philip wanted to clean her feet because Jesus had cleaned the feet for people, and he wanted to be her servant of love forever, Deniece mother couldn't help that moment and fall in tears.
The third meaningful things I have witness was both of this couple had really enjoyed the wedding day, nothing seemed to be tiring for them, and I remember that Philip had said a month after the wedding that he hope that he can't get married again with the same woman.
The fourth meaningful things are the crowd that this couple had, they are the result of the high charisma that able to built such a good friendship with anyone. All of bridesmaids were crying like mad during the vows exchange session.
The fifth meaningful things is the relationship of Deniece with her dad, in the picture you can see how Deniece lean her head on daddy's shoulder, and during the dinner Deniece had the honour to have Deniece for the first dance, for that moment Deniece's head was still leaning on daddy's shoulder, with many unspoken words, and for that moment I felt it, I almost cried myself because I believe for a dad, it is such an important moment, where someone had the honour to hold the daughter for a first dance, I really did admire her dad, there are many first dance that I have shot but this one is indeed a different one because I can really relate and felt that emotions.
The sixth meaningful thing was during Philip's speech, this had almost made me cry again as I had never expected that from a couple, in between Philip's speech he mentioned my name and shared about his pre-wedding experience, he said something like "I couldn't really share how that wonderful experience was during the pre-wedding because it is a very personal experience, I guess only through pictures can tell how it was, thanks to Dennis....." I was like oh my God... and later I received a message from Deniece that my slideshows deserves a standing ovation, I am thrilled.
I couldn't really tell all my experience in this wedding, I can only come up with 6 of them, but there are many more to share with everyone, like how Philip had said, it is very personal and almost like an existentialistic one. Thanks for having me to cover everything you have needed to get your wedding done, I can't thank much because of all the experience you have given me either. I really wish all the couples are like you both that able to be happy in everything, exchanging the energy with one another, I will continue to wait for another one just like both of you.
A wedding reception in Santorini, Greece, I've been waited for this day for very long and finally its here, nothing fancy about this wedding but it is by far one of the most comfortable wedding I've ever covered. Johnny originated from Hong Kong and Iris from Sandakan, they both have been living in UK for quite some time. I guess it is everybody's dream to have a wedding here. There aren't many information about holding a wedding in Santorini so I plan to share a little more here. It a small wedding reception in cozy Hotel Galini, just love the staff here as they are all very friendly, as both Johnny and Iris are Christians so they had a church solemnisation by their pastor in UK, and later on with official solemniser from Greece. It was funny that the Greek solemniser was talking in Greek so everyone did not understand anything but it was a fun experience. I guess due to all the handwork and hope, there are plenty of feelings flashed through Johnny and Iris mind, I can personally felt it when Iris was crying with happiness, this is indeed the day for both of them. Awesome sunset, the light was so strong like God is taking care for them. Everyone was very friendly and down to earth, especially Iris's parents, so I captured a few nice pre-wedding photos for both her mom and dad. Due to the reason it is an open air wedding dinner, we all had the luxury for a cozy windy night, accompanied with beautiful landscape of Santorini, every ladies in the event was given a blanket, that was very kind. Thanks for Iris for having me, I always feel that I'm the lucky one, you gave us a wonderful unforgettable experience.
Just right before their wedding day in Santorini we covered Johnny and Iris pre-wedding in both London and Santorini, we had a simple session in London Hyde Park, not the usual ones as its all garden style, thats what usually local prefer how their engagement session to me, not with those iconic architectures and such, so we gave them a little beloved session to arouse some of their emotions and continue discover each other again before heading to Santorini. As this time we did not fly over a make up artist from Malaysia so Iris did her make up on her own with a simple hair and minor make up, the sun and the ambience have added credit to the shots, we were very lucky to have such a nice sun throughout the whole session, however I also wish that we could discover even more places for the pre-wedding shot hehe, and we finished off with a divine golden hour light in Hotel Galini, this is where they will have their wedding day very soon. When I first met up with Iris in London, I hardly catch what she has to say with her very UK accent but it was ok, she was indeed a quiet type with well mannered personality, thought her inner self was filled with all the excitement like love of good food and always wanted to explore the world in an intellectual way. We had a good chat over Facebook before my journey to London and there was once she told me one thing that touches my soul, where Iris and Johnny was going on with hard times in life where Johnny was still desperately looking for a job for many months where they almost about to call off the wedding due to this reason, as all the deposit has been paid, Iris still decide to go forward with the idea with a very positive mind and telling me that they will work things out for this very special day. I never thought a person that I have not spoken a few before can express their most genuine self to me, I guess every relationship there is something to be struggling for and everyone must have gone through something in their lives for something better, the matter is whether both person willing to work together to achieve to that destination. Yes, sometimes I get something touching from people's bride, sometimes they will share with me things that inspired me to move further, that is why I set sail to develop pictures that may be possible to prolong a person relationship rather than damaging in unconscious way. That remains as my motto ever since.
Finally its the day, its our friend Kevin Tan pre-wedding day! Yes thanks for having to capture this special mission in Santorini, both of us have our own assignment here in London and Santorini so its good that it could cover our cost for this special assignment. Just to highlight that these editing is done by myself after his wedding day and Kevin Tan have opt to do his own editing for his pictures hehe, well these editing are to satisfy the blog only :p. I understand it is quite difficult for a photographer to be shot by another photographer, the feeling is quite weird but hopefully they are able to enjoy this very special session of theirs. The dress in Santorini was sponsored by Pretty in White, we have lots of funny pictures and behind the scene pictures on the trip. You know, if you ask me if I love Santorini, my answer is yes, if I have brought my love ones together with me, but for a guy to be alone here is quite boring, thanks for having these friends with me during the trip, at least there are things to play and laugh about. Kevin were very afraid of my magic, wonder what kind of magic I would use for his pre-wedding, but nothing much, the session that tailored for them are very personal and I am sure it able to revive certain hidden element between them, so that both are able to continue exploring one another.
Ah finally its a day we friends is everywhere in this assignment. Mun Kit is an old friend of mine since University days back in the States, where we used to sell books together to help us through school, and so I invite my buddy Cliff Choong together as my assistant shooter, at the same day his wedding live band is there too, and also our student manager who help get us into the book selling business Ramesh Ratnam, a ver well respected person among us, where we used to call ourselves Bookman. Surprisingly I also get to know one of Denise friend Maggy, who used to be a student of mine in one of the workshops I conducted. Loving all the pictures here in Beautiful Senja, I guess pictures tells a thousand words. Denise kept introduce me to some of her close friends, I was quite shy as I suppose to be the person behind the scene. Well it was a fun day! Thanks Mun Kit for having us!
Tired day with sweet reward, loving the mix cultures in this day where Indian, Malay and Chinese is like one big family here, everyone respect one another and having fun together. Reason being Adrian was brought up in a mix family with Indian and Chinese so they had a tea ceremony right after the church ceremony in Divine Mercy in Glenmarie. Lots of people, and certainly an awesome dinner party at Sime Darby Convention Centre. This was also my first time get to see Ambiga in real person, I was so busy capturing where my second shooter hinted me that lol. I felt so blessed to be in a nice crowd.
